Edwards County, Rocksprings Courthouse rededication, 7/5/14

Rededication ceremony.

Parade that followed the Rededication ceremony.

Aaron and a bag of mohair in front of the courthouse.

The newly restored courtroom.  All that's left to do is the floors - hardwood coming soon!

A poster advertising the weekend: PBR rodeo, fireworks, rededication ceremony, parade, dance, business decorating contest and more!  

It's fascinating how each town does their rededication a little differently!  

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS!

Our lovely certificates!

Our page in the binder for conference attendees and my name badge!

Us giving our presentation!  

We had so much fun doing this - the county people we met at the conference were wonderful and we received many invitations to county seats with behind-the-scenes tours of courthouses!  And yes, we plan to take those kind folks up on those invitations, hopefully in the next few months.  : )

Done!

Okay, so now I got all the photos (and a few extra) re-loaded onto this blog - it's photographically complete now!  Enjoy!

UPDATE

Yes, I realize that my photos disappeared.  Wah!!!  I don't know why and my friend who works for Google couldn't figure it out either.  Odd.  So I'm in the process of re-uploading ALL the photos.  Yikes!  In the meantime, here are some updates!

Our wedding at the Ellis County courthouse, in Waxahachie, March 11, 2013:

Waxahachie Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce contacted WFAA news in Dallas and told them about our wedding!  We made the evening news in Dallas! 

http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/Couple-finishes-Texas-courthouses-tour-with-Waxahachie-wedding-197369151.html

How many couples get their wedding filmed and on the news???

Before the wedding...

Ceremony, with Judge Carol Bush.

We put our families in the jury box! 

Married! 

Then, we were recognized by the Texas Senate with a Special Resolution on April 4, 2013:

Senator Donna Campbell with us.

Texas Senate Chambers - we were in the gallery because nobody told Aaron that he needed to wear and coat and tie, so we couldn't go to the floor.

Not to be outdone, the Texas House soon followed suit.

Cotulla courthouse (La Salle County) Rededication, 1/27/13

The tent they set up - I guess they knew it would be a long ceremony!

Border Patrol Color Guard and a local Girl Scout troop to help with the Pledges (U.S. and Texas).  Bagpipes included.  Awesome.

National Trust for Historic Preservation brought out the giant heart for the I Love Texas Courthouses campaign (www.ilovetexascourthouses.org) and Cotulla provided the 100 balloons!

It isn't a party in South Texas until the Mariachis play and the BBQ is served! 

Us!  

Commissioners' Courtroom, newly restored. 

Love those doors!!

Newly restored District Courtroom - notice the cork floors!  

This rooftop used to be a fenced yard for prisoners, but I'm pretty sure the fence won't go back up now that the courthouse has been restored! 

The cakes were done with the Cotulla crest (?) by a local bakery! 

Comal County courthouse rededication, Jan. 22, 2013

Aaron "friended" the Texas Historical Commission on Facebook (and then I did too), which led to the THC inviting us to the Rededication Ceremony for the Comal County Courthouse in New Braunfels!  It was so exciting and such an honor to be there! 

Ceremony at the courthouse.

Inside the District Courtroom.  Pink was the original color - it used to be a masculine color, due to its origins from red, which is the color of blood.  The border around the room is a French oatmeal paper replica, chosen for the way it allowed the gold leaf to enhance the 3-D effect.  Notice how the wreaths are centered on the corners and the flat surfaces.  

Floor tiles at the base of the iron stairs.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a new campaign: I <3 Texas Courthouses, which runs for the month of February.  They had a booth at the courthouse, promoting Texas courthouses and raising awareness to the public.  The balloons were part of their booth.

The newly restored side of the Comal County Courthouse.  When we first documented it, two of the sides had been added on to with an awful addition.  Now she's back to her original glory! 

A cool gift!!

Larry Goodman saw our interview on KXAN and contacted Jim Swift, who forwarded his email to Aaron.  Tonight, Larry gave us this poster of the courthouses - all 254 of them!  Thanks Larry!

link to Austin American Statesman article

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional/couples-texas-courthouse-odyssey-leads-to-a-courth/nTff5/

Austin American Statesman article!

La Grange newspaper article!

KXAN footage - check it out!

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/couple-nears-courthouse-tour-goal

FINAL courthouse trip!! Rio Grande Valley.

Jourdanton CH, 1912.

Architect: Henry T. Phelps

Lovely inside and out! There is a neat old jail (1915) too.  We had lunch at McBee Bar-B-Q afterwards - yum!  

Replica of the old Jourdanton CH.

Tilden CH, 1930.

Architect: W. C. Stephenson

The addition was put on in 1965, the jail dates to 1880, when Tilden was called Dogtown.  Locals still call it that.

Hebbronville CH, 1913.

Architect: Henry T. Phelps

There is an interesting old hotel / hospital falling apart across the street and the old jail is nearby too.

Zapata CH, 2005.

Architects: Morgan Spear Assoc.

For a newer courthouse, this one is nice.  The old one was demolished.

We camped at Falcon State Park, which was nice.  Saw the DEA blimp in the sky the following morning.  

Rio Grande City CH, 1939.

Architect: Stanley Bliss

The jail inside looks like it's still in use. Rio Grande City is a cute little town that feels like very Old Mexico.  There is a cool old hotel with a grotto (La Borde House). 

Edinburg CH, 1954.  

Architect: unknown

Monthly Market Days in front.  The old jail is now part of a museum.  Edinburg tore down a beautiful old Phelps courthouse (similar to Jourdanton) for this one.

Old Hidalgo County CH, Hidalgo, 1886.  

Brownsville CH, 1978.

Architect: SHWC Inc.

Ugh!!!  There are 2 older ones in town: the 1912 one looks like it's being renovated and the old 1912 jail is nearby too.  The oldest one, dated 1882, is now the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge No. 81.  

Lunched at Emy's Restaurant on our way to Port Isabel, which served really different Mexican food from what we're both used to. 

Old Brownsville CH, 1912.

Older Brownsville CH, 1882.

Raymondville CH, 1922.

Architect: Henry T. Phelps

Sarita CH, 1922.

Architect: Henry T. Phelps

This courthouse is pretty and in good shape.  Sarita is a cute little town.

Falfurrias CH, 1914.

Architect: Alfred Giles

Butter!  Not anymore.  But it used to be home to the Falfurrias Butter Factory.

Kingsville CH, 1914.

Architect: Atlee B. Ayres

The new wing was added on in 1966. 

Alice CH, 1914.

Architect: Atlee B. Ayres

The 2 additions were put on in 1948 and 1949.

Lunched at El Capitale, which was pretty good! 

San Diego CH, 1916.

Architects: Sanguinet, Staats & Gottlieb

This courthouse desperately needs restoration.

That is 253 courthouses; there are 254 total.  We are saving the last one, the one here in Austin, Travis County, for last.  We will be visiting that one on Saturday, December 1 and then going to Texas' oldest restaurant, Scholz Garten, for a huge party celebrating the completion of this project!  The party will be from 3 - 6, if you're reading this, then you're invited!  : ) Anne and Aaron